Operating Room Noise Environment and Behavior in Children Undergoing General Anesthesia: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Excessive operating room noise impairs communication, distracts from monitoring equipment, and may increase patient and provider stress.

Aim: This study investigates the effects of reduced noise on perioperative behavior in children undergoing general anesthesia and on anesthesia provider response time.

Methods: Healthy children (the American Society of Anesthesiologists class I-II), 2-8 years of age, and their anesthesia providers were randomized into a control or treatment group exposed to reduced stimulation during induction and emergence. Primary outcomes were patient behavior and provider response time. Secondary outcomes were postoperative pain scores, provider responses exceeding 30 seconds, and median and maximum noise exposure.

Results: 64 children (27 females and 37 males) were randomized into a control or treatment group, of whom 32 (50%) underwent tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy and 32 (50%) underwent dental procedures. The average age was 4.6 (SD 1.43) years. Children exposed to reduced noise were less likely to be "fussy about eating" (p=0.042), more "interested in what goes on around them" (p=0.008), and had fewer temper tantrums (p=0.004) on postoperative day one or two and on postoperative day five, six, or seven. No other differences were found between groups in behavioral assessment scores or provider response times.

Conclusions: Our study is the first to show that a low-stimulus environment improves postdischarge behavior. Provider response time was unaffected by reduced noise, and the average and peak noise exposure levels did not exceed national safety guidelines. This trial is registered with NCT03507855 and NCT03504553.